An image forming apparatus capable of performing can perform an image forming operation together with temperature rise by heating of a heat fixing apparatus operation to ensure a good fixability and a shortest short first print out time and to prevent loss of while minimizing power consumption without and not over-burdening a constitutional member of the image forming apparatus (e.g., life-shortening shortening the life of the constitutional member)is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a fixing apparatus unit for heat-fixing a toner image on a recording material and a detection member for detecting a toner of a fixing apparatus member and performs simultaneously temperature rise by heating of the fixing apparatus and an image forming operation including a pre-process and an image forming sequence. In the image forming apparatus, a start A fixing temperature of the pre-process and a start temperature of the image forming sequence with respect to the fixing apparatus member are unit is made variable depending on whether full-color image formation is performed or mono-color image formation is performed.

Patent
   RE45252
Priority
Dec 10 2004
Filed
Oct 14 2010
Issued
Nov 18 2014
Expiry
Nov 01 2025
Assg.orig
Entity
Large
0
45
all paid
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit for forming a toner image of a plurality of colors and a toner image of a predetermined single color on a recording material;
a fixing unit for heat fixing the toner image formed on the recording material;
an actuation unit for actuating said image forming unit in a state in which a temperature of said fixing unit is lower than a toner image fixing temperature in a case of forming the toner image of the plurality of colors and in the a case of forming the toner image of the predetermined single color; and
a change unit for changing a the toner image fixing temperature of said fixing unit at the time of actuating said image forming unit in the case of forming the toner image of the plurality of colors and in the case of forming the toner image of the predetermined single color.
0. 21. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming device configured to form a monochromatic toner image on a recording material in a monochromatic mode and a full-color toner image on the recording material in a full-color mode;
a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the recording material;
a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detector, said temperature controller raising the temperature of said fixing device up to a target temperature in the monochromatic mode and the full-color mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controller configured to actuate said image forming device before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the target temperature,
wherein said actuation controller starts an actuation of said image forming device when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts an actuation of said image forming device when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
0. 27. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming device configured to form a monochromatic toner image on a recording material in a monochromatic mode and a full-color toner image on the recording material in a full-color mode;
a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the recording material;
a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detector, said temperature controller raising the temperature of said fixing device up to respective target temperatures in the monochromatic mode and the full-color mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controller configured to actuate said image forming device before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the respective target temperatures,
wherein said actuation controller starts an actuation of said image forming device when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts an actuation of said image forming device when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
0. 18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
image forming means, including a plurality of image bearing members, capable of forming a full-color image and a monochromatic image on a recording material;
fixing means for fixing the image on the recording material by heating the image at a preset temperature;
temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of said fixing means;
temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said fixing means on the basis of an output of said temperature detecting means;
image formation control means for controlling said image forming means so as to start an image forming step of forming, when an image forming signal is input, the image on at least one of the image bearing members on the basis of the input image forming signal after a pre-process is performed;
actuation means for actuating said image forming means so that (1) in a case that an image forming signal of a full-color image forming mode is input, the pre-process is started when the detected temperature reaches a first pre-process start temperature and the image forming step is started when the detected temperature reaches a first toner image fixing temperature, and (2) in a case that an image forming signal of a monochromatic image forming mode is input, the pre-process is started when the detected temperature reaches a second pre-process start temperature and the image forming step is started when the detected temperature reaches a second toner image fixing temperature, which is higher than the first toner image fixing temperature; and
change means for changing the first toner image fixing temperature and the second toner image fixing temperature,
wherein the first and second pre-process start temperatures are lower than the first toner image fixing temperature and the second toner image fixing temperature.
0. 9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
image forming means, including a plurality of image bearing members, capable of forming a full-color image and a monochromatic image on a recording material;
fixing means for fixing the image on the recording material by heating the image at a preset temperature;
temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of said fixing means;
temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said fixing means on the basis of an output of said temperature detecting means;
image formation control means for controlling said image forming means so as to start an image forming step of forming, when an image forming signal is input, the image on at least one of the image bearing members on the basis of the input image forming signal after a pre-process is performed;
actuation means for actuating said image forming means so that (1) in a case that an image forming signal of a full-color image forming mode is input, the pre-process is started when the detected temperature reaches a first pre-process start temperature and the image forming step is started when the detected temperature reaches a first toner image fixing temperature, and (2) in a case that an image forming signal of a monochromatic image forming mode is input, the pre-process is started when the detected temperature reaches a second pre-process start temperature, which is higher than the first pre-process start temperature, and the image forming step is started when the detected temperature reaches a second toner image fixing temperature, which is lower than the first toner image fixing temperature; and
change means for changing the first pre-process start temperature, the first toner image fixing temperature, the second pre-process start temperature, and the second toner image fixing temperature,
wherein the first pre-process start temperature is lower than the first toner image fixing temperature, and the second pre-process start temperature is lower than the second toner image fixing temperature.
0. 34. An image forming apparatus comprising:
four image forming units configured to form a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image and a black toner image, respectively;
an intermediary transfer member configured to receive (i) a full-color image including the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image and the black toner image transferred from said four image forming units to transfer the full-color image onto a recording material in a full-color mode, and (ii) a monochromatic image including the black toner image transferred from one of said four image forming units to transfer the monochromatic image on the recording material in a monochromatic mode;
a fixing device configured to (i) fix the full-color image on the recording material in the full-color mode, and (ii) fix the monochromatic image on the recording material in the monochromatic mode;
a temperature detecting portion configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controlling portion configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detecting portion, said temperature controlling portion raising the temperature of said fixing device up to a target temperature in the full-color mode and the monochromatic mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controlling portion configured to actuate said four image forming units before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the target temperature,
wherein said one of said four image forming units is disposed at a most downstream position relative to the other three image forming units in a moving direction of said intermediary transfer member, and
wherein said actuation controlling portion starts an actuation of said four image forming units when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts an actuation of one of said four image forming units when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
0. 46. An image forming apparatus comprising:
four image forming units configured to form a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image and a black toner image, respectively;
an intermediary transfer member configured to receive (i) a full-color image including the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image and the black toner image transferred from said four image forming units to transfer the full-color image onto a recording material in a full-color mode, and (ii) a monochromatic image including the black toner image transferred from one of said four image forming units to transfer the monochromatic image on the recording material in a monochromatic mode;
a fixing device configured to (i) fix the full-color image on the recording material in the full-color mode, and (ii) fix the monochromatic image on the recording material in the monochromatic mode;
a temperature detecting portion configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controlling portion configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detecting portion, said temperature controlling portion raising the temperature of said fixing device up to respective target temperatures in the full-color mode and the monochromatic mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controlling portion configured to actuate said four image forming units before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the respective target temperature,
wherein said one of said four image forming units is disposed at a most downstream position relative to the other three image forming units in a moving direction of said intermediary transfer member, and
wherein said actuation controlling portion starts an actuation of said four image forming units when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts an actuation of one of said four image forming units when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
0. 40. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a first image forming unit, provided with a first photosensitive member, configured to form a yellow toner image on said first photosensitive member;
a second image forming unit, provided with a second photosensitive member, configured to form a magenta toner image on said second photosensitive member;
a third image forming unit, provided with a third photosensitive member, configured to form a cyan toner image on said third photosensitive member;
a fourth image forming unit, provided with a fourth photosensitive member, configured to form a black toner image on said fourth photosensitive member;
an intermediary transfer member configured to receive (i) a full-color image including the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image and the black toner image transferred from said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members to transfer the full-color image onto a recording material in a full-color mode, and (ii) a monochromatic image including the black toner image transferred from said fourth photosensitive member to transfer the monochromatic image on the recording material in a monochromatic mode;
a fixing device configured to (i) fix the full-color image on the recording material in the full-color mode, and (ii) fix the monochromatic image on the recording material in the monochromatic mode;
a temperature detecting portion configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controlling portion configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detecting portion, said temperature controlling portion raising the temperature of said fixing device up to a target temperature in the full-color mode and the monochromatic mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controlling portion configured to actuate said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the target temperature,
wherein said fourth photosensitive member is disposed at a most downstream position relative to said first, second, and third photosensitive members in a moving direction of said intermediary transfer member, and
wherein said actuation controlling portion starts rotation of said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts rotation of said fourth photosensitive member when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
0. 52. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a first image forming unit, provided with a first photosensitive member, configured to form a yellow toner image on said first photosensitive member;
a second image forming unit, provided with a second photosensitive member, configured to form a magenta toner image on said second photosensitive member;
a third image forming unit, provided with a third photosensitive member, configured to form a cyan toner image on said third photosensitive member;
a fourth image forming unit, provided with a fourth photosensitive member, configured to form a black toner image on said fourth photosensitive member;
an intermediary transfer member configured to receive (i) a full-color image including the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image, the cyan toner image and the black toner image transferred from said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members to transfer the full-color image onto a recording material in a full-color mode, and (ii) a monochromatic image including the black toner image transferred from said fourth photosensitive member to transfer the monochromatic image on the recording material in a monochromatic mode;
a fixing device configured to (i) fix the full-color image on the recording material in the full-color mode, and (ii) fix the monochromatic image on the recording material in the monochromatic mode;
a temperature detecting portion configured to detect a temperature of said fixing device;
a temperature controlling portion configured to control the temperature of said fixing device based on an output of said temperature detecting portion, said temperature controlling portion raising the temperature of said fixing device up to respective target temperatures in the full-color mode and the monochromatic mode when an image formation is started; and
an actuation controlling portion configured to actuate said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members before the temperature of said fixing device reaches the respective target temperature,
wherein said fourth photosensitive member is disposed at a most downstream position relative to said first, second, and third photosensitive members in a moving direction of said intermediary transfer member, and
wherein said actuation controlling portion starts rotation of said first, second, third and fourth photosensitive members when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a first temperature in the full-color mode, and starts rotation of said fourth photosensitive member when the detected temperature of said fixing device reaches a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, in the monochromatic mode.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the toner image fixing temperature of said fixing unit and the temperature of said fixing unit at the time of actuating said image forming unit is smaller in the case of forming the toner image of the predetermined single color than in the case of forming the toner image of the plurality of colors.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of said fixing unit at the time of actuating said image forming unit is higher in the case of forming the toner image of the predetermined single color than in the case of forming the toner image of the plurality of colors.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming unit includes a plurality of photosensitive members on which a toner image is to be formed, and said change unit changes rotation start timing of a photosensitive member on which the toner image of the predetermined single color is to be formed.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming unit includes a photosensitive member and a plurality of image forming portions for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member, and said change unit changes rotation start timing of the photosensitive member.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined single color is achromatic color.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming unit includes a conveyance unit for conveying the recording material toward said fixing unit, and said change unit changes actuation timing of said conveyance unit depending on a detection temperature of said fixing unit.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixing unit is kept at different temperatures between the case of forming the toner image of the plurality of colors and the case of forming the toner image of the predetermined single color.
0. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature depending on the detected temperature during the input of the image forming signal so that the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature is lower with a higher detected temperature during the input of the image forming signal.
0. 11. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature depending on the detected temperature during the input of the first toner image forming signal so that the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature is lower with a higher detected temperature during the input of the image forming signal.
0. 12. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature depending on an image heating temperature so that the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature is higher with a higher image heating temperature.
0. 13. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature depending on an image heating temperature so that the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature is lower with a higher image heating temperature.
0. 14. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature depending on an image forming speed so that the first pre-process start temperature or the second pre-process start temperature is higher with a higher image forming speed.
0. 15. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising change means for changing the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature depending on an image forming speed so that the first toner image fixing temperature or the second toner image fixing temperature is higher with a higher image forming speed.
0. 16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the full-color image forming mode is equal to the second toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the monochromatic image forming mode.
0. 17. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the full-color image forming mode is higher than the second toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the monochromatic image forming mode.
0. 19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the full-color image forming mode is equal to the second toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the monochromatic image forming mode.
0. 20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the full-color image forming mode is higher than the second toner image fixing temperature at which a toner image is fixed on the recording material in the case of the monochromatic image forming mode.
0. 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image forming device includes a plurality of photosensitive members, and said actuation controller controls a rotation start timing, as an actuation start timing, of said photosensitive members.
0. 23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image forming device includes a single photosensitive member and a plurality of developing devices, and said actuation controller controls a rotation start timing, as an actuation start timing, of said single photosensitive member.
0. 24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 26. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said image forming device includes an intermediary transfer member,
wherein in the monochromatic mode, the monochromatic toner image is formed on said intermediary transfer member by one of said photosensitive members, and then the monochromatic toner image on said intermediary transfer member is transferred to the recording material, and
wherein in the full-color mode, the full-color toner image is formed on said intermediary transfer member by said photosensitive members, and then the full-color toner image on said intermediary transfer member is transferred to the recording material.
0. 28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said image forming device includes a plurality of photosensitive members, said actuation controller controls a rotation start timing, as an actuation start timing, of said photosensitive members.
0. 29. An appaatus according to claim 27, wherein said image forming device includes a single photosensitive member and a plurality of developing devices, and said actuation controller controls a rotation start timing, as an actuation start timing, of said single photosensitive member.
0. 30. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the target temperature of said fixing device in the full-color mode is higher than the target temperature of said fixing device in the monochromatic mode.
0. 31. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 33. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said image forming device includes an intermediary transfer member,
wherein in the monochromatic mode, the monochromatic toner image is formed on said intermediary transfer member by one of said photosensitive members, and then the monochromatic toner image on said intermediary transfer member is transferred to the recording material, and
wherein in the full-color mode, the full-color toner image is formed on said intermediary transfer member by said photosensitive members, and then the full-color toner image on said intermediary transfer member is transferred to the recording material.
0. 35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 37. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said endless belt as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 38. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said fixing device includes a roller configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said roller as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 43. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said endless belt as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 44. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said fixing device includes a roller configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said roller as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 48. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 49. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said endless belt as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 50. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said fixing device includes a roller configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said roller as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 53. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said fixing device includes an endless belt configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 54. An apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said fixing device includes a heating member configured to heat the toner image on the recording material through said endless belt in the nip portion.
0. 55. An apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said endless belt as the temperature of said fixing device.
0. 56. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said fixing device includes a roller configured to heat the toner image on the recording material in a nip portion.
0. 57. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said temperature detecting portion detects a temperature of said roller as the temperature of said fixing device.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus utilizing electrophotography, particularly an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, etc.

In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or the like, needs for colorization have grown. 1. Describedto are adopted, but in some cases of different constitutions of the fixing apparatus, it is also possible to adopt such a constitutions that in which the pre-process or the image forming sequence is started depending on an internal surface temperature of the fixing belt 103 by disposing the first thermistor 103 so that it contacts the SUS base layer 103a at the inner surface of the fixing belt 103a at the inner surface of the fixing belt 103. Further, such a constitutions that the pre-process or the image forming sequence is started depending on the surface temperature of the fixing belt 103 by disposing the first thermistor so that it contacts or does not contact the surface heat-resistant release layer of the fixing belt 103 may also be used.

Further, in the embodiments described above, the heater heating-type fixing apparatuses are described but the present invention is similarly applicable to other fixing apparatuses of electromagnetic induction heating-type (JP-A Hei 7-114276, JP-A Hei 9-44014, JP-A Hei 9-237675, etc.), pressure belt heating-type (JP-A Hei 11-212389, JP-A 2001-318544, JP-A 2001-356625, etc.), thin fixing roller heating-type, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purpose of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 358642/2004 filed Dec. 10, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Ono, Kazuaki

Patent Priority Assignee Title
Patent Priority Assignee Title
6148163, Feb 10 1998 Oki Data Corporation Control speed and fuser temperature based upon monochromatic or full-color printing
6751425, Nov 22 2001 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus, control method and program for the image forming apparatus, and storage medium
6952540, Aug 10 2001 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus
7110691, May 30 2003 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO , LTD Image forming apparatus
20050135827,
20060127112,
JP11212389,
JP2001318544,
JP2001356625,
JP2002278355,
JP2002311757,
JP2003057993,
JP2003156968,
JP2003186343,
JP200357993,
JP2004145085,
JP2004145086,
JP2004170669,
JP2004246212,
JP2157878,
JP4140765,
JP4204980,
JP4204981,
JP4204982,
JP4204983,
JP4204984,
JP444075,
JP444076,
JP444077,
JP444078,
JP444079,
JP444080,
JP444081,
JP444082,
JP444083,
JP497382,
JP5066691,
JP5113705,
JP63313182,
JP7114276,
JP7287474,
JP8076636,
JP8123242,
JP9237675,
JP944014,
/
Executed onAssignorAssigneeConveyanceFrameReelDoc
Oct 14 2010Canon Kabushiki Kaisha(assignment on the face of the patent)
Date Maintenance Fee Events
Mar 30 2016M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity.
Apr 02 2020M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity.


Date Maintenance Schedule
Nov 18 20174 years fee payment window open
May 18 20186 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Nov 18 2018patent expiry (for year 4)
Nov 18 20202 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4)
Nov 18 20218 years fee payment window open
May 18 20226 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Nov 18 2022patent expiry (for year 8)
Nov 18 20242 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8)
Nov 18 202512 years fee payment window open
May 18 20266 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Nov 18 2026patent expiry (for year 12)
Nov 18 20282 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12)